FROM THE WATCH TOWER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 517, 21 November 1928, Page 8

FROM THE WATCH TOWER

By “THE LOOK-OUT MAN.” TICKLISH A machine with which a London department store lias been experimenting is to decide automatically whether a customer is entitled to credit. It sounds good, but retailers say that what is wanted is a machine that will throw the unfinancial customer out into the street, picking up his hat and umbrella and casting them out alter him. ACROSS THE STYX How rarely it is that the North Shore is seen in complete darkness, and how strange the phenomenon appears, is demonstrated when the power supply happens to fail, as it did for a time last night. Then, instead of the starry constellations of street lights from Stanley Point to North Head, there were only the black curtains of night Where the lights are usually reflected in the harbour in long, shimmering pencils, the darkness was only relieved by the lights of the Diomede at the naval wharf, and the beaded outline of a groping ferry-boat. Charon’s ferry, forsooth, and the Waitemata the Styx. Then the lights flashed on again, a long belt of radiance, and Devonport became Devonport, where roses bloom, not asphodel. * # * CHANGING LAKE REVELS News that there has been a rise in the level of Lake Herewhakaitu, near Rotorua, and also in the level of Lake Taupo, may be considered significant by people searching for manifestations of volcanic activity. Both lakes, the one small, the other large, occupy depressions left by violent volcanic action. It is recalled that Lake Tarawera rose before the eruption of ISS6. Lake Taupo has changed its level constantly, with what accompaniment can hardly be judged when the changes occurred at a remote period in time. Changes did occur, accompanied by a series of earthquakes, as recently as 1922. Siltation of the outlet, which the Maoris claim to be the cause of the rise in the level, is undoubtedly occurring on a slow scale, as those who navigate fishing launches in and out of Taupo village are aware. But, out of respect to the works at Horahora and Arapuni the Government would be hardly likely to deepen the outlet, and thus allow a greater volume of water to flow in the Waikato River. * * - TEN YEARS AGO TO-DAY “U.A.N.” (retd.) remembers a great occasion: The German flag will be hauled down at » p.m. to-day, and will not be hoisted again without licrmission. As the bugles of the Grand Fleet sounded “Sunset” in the Firth of Forth on a winter’s afternoon 10 years ago to-day, the ensigns of the captured German warships, in obedience to Beatty’s signal, came fluttering down for the last time. It was the last act of the historic drama enacted in the North Sea on November 21, 1918, when the fleets of two great nations met, but not for battle. After its long stagnation in Kiel, culminating in a general mutiny, the vaunted High Seas fleet was in no mood or condition for fighting. Led by a British light cruiser, the long line of surrendered battleships, battlecruisers, cruisers, and destroyers steamed in between the two divisions of waiting British ships, and victor and vanquished steamed westward to the Firth of Forth. The British battlecruisers, in recognition of their big part in the naval war, were given the post of honour at the head of the Grand Fleet. The New Zealand was one of the leading ships of the southern division, which was headed by H.M.A.S. Australia.

THE AIJSENTEES A ship which sails without a helmsman is visiting Auckland. It really doesn’t seem much to make a fuss about, when other ships have been sailing without firemen for- years. A BRIDGE BALLAD She was a damsel fair to sec; A gallant bachelor was he; He offered her, on bended knee, ONE HEART. A richer rival came in view; Of maids he'd learnt a thing or two; He flashed before her eyes, so blue, TWO DIAMONDS. They married: Ne<ct, a change of scene. His love became a mere "has-been”: He spent his time (he said) between THREE CEDES. And so this once too pampered bride, Forlorn, neglected , pined and died. And four grave-diggers grimly plied FOUR SPADES. The moral is: Don't wed, for gold. A marriage bon gin's a marriage sold; A loveless match is proved to hold NO TRUMPS.